BREAKFAST IS BACK! The breakfast options are kind of unreal and under $5. I always splurge and add bacon. The portions are big too. Only downside is you have to order using a very annoying app and you have to order ahead or else expect to wait around for at least 20 mins. The brekkie options: $4.79 breakfast burrito with egg, potatoes and cheese $4.79 breakfast croissant with egg and cheese Overall, this is a decent cafeteria. Reasonable prices especially for the area, especially compared to anything on R street. read more

No longer serving breakfasts, just kiosks for grab and go. It's not really a cafeteria, more like an airport shop.

As far as cafeterias go, this one is good for its variety, freshness and reasonable prices. What's best is their vast selection: two types of soups daily; salad bar and some hot food items currently at .52 an ounce; full grill options like burgers and sandwiches, fries etc; cook to order omelette station or other rotating food items, pizza oven used for routinely offered pizzas, flatbreads or warming up tortillas. They serve full breakfast and lunches only. Grab your food and drink then line up to pay. They take cash or credit card! They have a few areas needed for improvement in case management reads this. Sometimes their food is overly salted or green beans and root vegetables undercooked. Pluses however is their new per ounce offering of hot foods at times, finally. Their menu is posted weekly online so be sure to check that out as menu items offered changes. Although located in a government building, it is open to the public without any restriction to access. If you are within walking distance from your job, it's worth a visit. read more

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I've always either walked past the cafe during my morning walk breaks or I go inside to fill my container with water. I only recently ordered a breakfast burrito for brunch because I was hungry. It was good and filling but I do have to say that some of the stuff they have is a lot more expensive than I would've expected. They do have a new menu every day though. For a cafe, it does better than most State ones that I have experienced but I think the one at FTB is a lot nicer and more spacious. The food here though probably tastes better. read more

After hearing about the great soups at the CalPers cafeteria, I had the opportunity to stop here for lunch today. What I was not prepared for was the variety and the selection that abounds here! Yes, it's a cafeteria, but it's a ~nice~ cafeteria with dishes that look fresh-made and NOT thawed and heated from a box. There were 2 pots of soup: lentil curry and chicken noodle. While they looked good, there were too many other foods that demanded my attention. There were prep islands of salads, gourmet French sandwichs, fresh-made pizza, flautas with gorgeous side dishes, and a fresh-to-order pasta station. After circling around from one distractingly attractive food station to another, I finally settled on the cheesy biscuit "slider" plate with your choice of pulled pork, fried chicken, or a tilapia fischake. As I was eying the side dish mac 'n cheese, I decided to choose the fish instead of the pulled pork. I figured that the inch-thick square of moist on the inside and crispy crumb outside would be a bit healthier choice. My lunch partner opted for the pasta plate with fresh sauteed in butter jumbo shrimp. He had five big, juicy shrimps that had been slow-simmered, so they were also quite tender. Everything looked and smelled delectably good, so I could have easily circled around again and picked any of the other choices. (Clearly, I will have to return to try some of the other dishes.) The Tilapia was delicious. No generic frozen fishy stuff, here. This was a huge serving of nicely prepared fish with a lemon pepper dressing. The mac 'n cheese was good. (They served a generous amount of it for a "side".) The multi-leveled dining area was inviting and appealing. Other cafeteria designers should take note and rescue other places from boring institutionalism. The cafeteria almost makes me want to work at CalPers (or nearby) so that I could eat here more often. Yes, it's that good. (And, the prices are quite reasonable.) read more

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It's great to have a decent size cafeteria that serves good salad! I've ordered nothing but the salad since I've been coming here. The lettuce is always crispy fresh along with the other produce toppings. They carry my three favorite salad toppings - eggs, corn and BEETS! :) I have yet to try their fresh off the grill food! Other than lunch I do come here occasionally for coffee; however, not for their snacks and soda considering their prices have recently gone up. I've always went to the Sundries shop for goodies that are way cheaper and also a closer walk for me. You can easily get your food quick here (well at least for the salad bar) and head back to your office. There is never a long wait at the cashiers since there's always around 3-4 registers available during lunch hour. I highly recommend their salads! It's super good! :) read more

Lincoln Plaza Cafe - Nachos. - Cafes Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I want to like the Cafe in Lincoln Plaza much more than I actually do, but you may find just the right snack or meal for you. The lunch hours are quite busy here, be prepared for a long wait for anything cooked to order. They do have a wide variety of options, from pizza to burgers and mexican. I've come in here occasionally over the years and things seem to be going downhill though in terms of service and waits. The space is rather sleek but was showing signs of wear and wasn't as clean as I've seen it. As far as the food goes, meh, totally meh. I've had the veggie burgers (frozen not goodness), fries (soggy, not great sourcing) and soup (who wants okra in anything, let alone soup). The prices are a bit higher than the quality, maybe 15% too much. Their breakfast options on the other hand have been tasty especially the oatmeal bar (but overcooked). Service is super slow, if there at all. Mostly self service, so it becomes a bit of a free for all with the lines and where to get what. While I can't recommend the Lincoln Plaza Cafe, it does have some good options and a wide beverage selection. read more

This Cafeteria puts others to shame! Recently I have been venturing out, wanting to grab something tasty for lunch but not overly priced. A coworker mentions Calpers Cafeteria. Walking distance from our office, we mozzied on over for lunch. Busy Busy are my 1st thoughts, 2nd thoughts Impressive and lots of choices and 3rd thought Super quick!! This cafeteria is full of options ranging from the make your own salad bar, make your own sandiwich/panini station to specials of the day, soups and deserts. It took me a minute to get my sea legs, with all the other state workers buzzing around me but once I got my focus to the salad bar I went. Now be careful, it's priced per weight. So the salad dressings or heavier veggies such as brussel sprouts, beets or jicama can really weigh down your bowl/plate. This is now one of my favorite lunch spots during the work week. Lots of seating indoor and out. read more

Lincoln Plaza Cafe - Pork lettuce wraps-today's special - Cafes Near Me - Sacramento, California

I've been coming to the CalPERS cafe for several years. The staff is friendly and they know how to cook. There are a lot of options and its convenient if you work around 4th and P. What's nice is (I probably shouldn't tell anyone) is the happy hour they have every Wed and Thursday from 2-3 where a lot of treats are for a dollar. The inside is clean and the have several stations that they offer: grilled food, home cooked food and salads where you pay by the oz etc. I definitely recommend it for breakfast and lunch and its very affordable. Usually around $5 will get you a meal. read more

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I only go here for the Caesar salad, and have been for almost a decade. At first, Roberto (the chef who introduced it) made such an amazing salad, that my staff would come over in groups. After he passed away, it went down hill... First they tried to replace the Parmesan cheese with powder! Thankfully that didn't last. They started to use left over chicken, so you never know what seasoning is on it from the previous day. Then the price went up a few times... And they even started to charge $1.19 for a tiny slice of garlic bread! Like a sliver or 1/8 of a half a loaf you can get at the store in the frozen section... Now they even gotten rid of the "boat" tray, forcing the staff and consumer to handle a tiny plate. It not only seems like smaller portions, but harder to eat without making a mess. So from an amazing salad, to an amalgamation of left over ingredients then served on a tiny unmanageable plate... All while being overcharged. Update: they switched back to bowls instead of the tiny plates and not being as skimpy on the portion, so +2 stars read more

Decent food for a State Cafeteria, they change the menu everyday Monday to Friday. Reasonable prices as well. Plus there isn't too many choices around here. This will be your best bet! read more

I don't come as often as I should considering I work right across the street :/ I really like the build your own sandwich / salad bar. The food is fresh and the building is clean. Every day there is a different menu but you can always get a burger or pizza on the daily. I LOVE coming here on Thursday for the Hail Cesar salad! Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, shrimp, croutons...I always ask for extra tomatoes too! Breakfast is also served. You can build your own breakfast burrito or just order sides like bacon, eggs, sausages, etc. The prices went up which sucks! But it's still inexpensive. Come check it out if you're in the area! read more

Food so far has been decent and well priced. They use the 365pay app and I think that's pretty cool except sometimes the app doesn't work properly. I've had their beyon chili and fries so far and that's absolutely delicious and quite aforable!! read more

My husband works here and I love to meet him here for lunch! They have a great array of choices, and each day of the week brings you something different! They have a salad bar, a grill area for burgers/fries, an d two or three stations w/ different types of entrees depending on the day of the week! Their clam chowder is great on Fridays, and Thursdays they have the best cesar salad!! Better go early though, the line for cesar salad is always long! I highly recommend the cilantro lime dressing, it's delicious! And make sure if you plan on ordering something from their grill, you better leave enough time. Everything is made fresh to order, so the wait is usually pretty long. I've never had breakfast there, but my husband says breakfast is extremely cheap, and the lunch prices are really fair. If you're ever near Q and 3rd, definitely take a trip to the CalPERs Cafeteria! Chances are, you won't be disappointed! read more

I frequent the Lincoln Plaza for lunch since it's conveniently located in my building. They do have their menu posted online so I like to check it before I head in to see what they're offering. Their Cafe offers an open salad bar so if you can't find something that you like then you can opt out for the salad bar. The food is great I love to get omelets in the morning and mostly I get their specials during lunch. They do offer Wednesday Happy Hours for their pastries and cookies. And what I did like was how they offered pies to sell for the holiday season for Thanksgiving & Christmas! The staff is friendly. The price is not expensive. I recommend this place for breakfast and lunch. There cafeteria is better than most places! read more

Despite the fact that I work right above this cafe, I SWEAR this review is coming from a completely objective standpoint. On a good day, this cafe is pretty packed every which way and trust... it's pack for a good reason. Over the past three years, I have witnessed the quality of this food increase while the prices have remained consistently cheap. The only reason I am NOT giving this place 5 stars is because parking can be VERY troublesome on a busy day (unless you don't mind playing the meter game) and because the lines can be a bit overwhelming. But it's totally okay... just make sure to adjust your visit accordingly. But anyway... the quality of the food here is VERY impressive. Not only does this place offer a self serve salad and sandwich bar for those who want to custom make their own sandwiches, but they also provide a grill, ready made pizza area and 2 (yes 2) entree of the day area. So believe you me, you will be able to find SOMETHING to eat if you come here. In addition, their breakfasts are also delicious and they provide an omelet bar and breakfast of the day deal EVERYDAY. It's nuts. But the biggest draw for this eatery is... the PRICE!! Most of their special entrees are under 7 dollars and considering how much food you get, it's absolutely worth the price. For a fresh delicious omelet with everything in it, you only have to pay $3.72??? Forgetaboutit!!! So overall, this place is a must because it caters to every kind of eater... read more

I met up with a few other Yelpers here today for lunch. This was my first time here and holy shit was I impressed. This place is top notch even as a restaurant, let alone a cafeteria, or a cafeteria in a State building! I was a bit overwhelmed at first because there were hundreds of people going this way and that way. It was like Grand Central Station in there. So it ended up taking quite some time before I got to order my food, but it was worth it. They have so many options, it's awesome. Of course I got the burger with a side of big ass sweet potato wedges and a drink all for about $6. Flame grilled? You bet your buttons it was. Everything was so fresh and well prepared. The best part was the staff, who were UNBELIEVABLY polite even though they were being bombarded with orders by a swarm of people which I'm certain 32% of were assholes, you know how it goes. These employees addressed everyone by name as soon as you told it to them. They deserve jobs at 5 star restaurants with the amount of respect they give their customers. This place makes the cafeteria in my building look like a truck stop in a Rob Zombie movie. You've got to check it out if you work around here. read more

My daughter recently moved across the street from Calpers so we decided to try their cafeteria for lunch. It has been quite some time since I last visited the Calpers Cafeteria and the place has made some major changes since I was last there. Some interior designer really did a number on this place. If for no other reason, you have to come here to check out the décor. It will damn near make you want to work for Calpers. Maybe it was because I arrived there at eleven but both the salad and sandwich bars looked absolutely beautiful. The hot food stations were clean and neat and the presentation of the food made me want to try one of everything. Not having been there in a while, I had a lot of questions and the staff answered all of them with the kind of warmth and energy that I have never experienced before in a government cafeteria. I really like what they have done to the dining area as well. Breaking it up into different levels and sections to make the area seem spacious, and at the same time more personal, was a really brilliant idea. read more

The Calpers Cafeteria was a staple in my lunch rotation in my previous life as a State worker. Back then, I was a huge fan of their salad bar during lunch and made-to-order sandwiches during breakfast. Not that these don't exist today, but now I go there on Fridays for one thing and one thing only: New England Clam Chowder. You heard me right. I think about it everyday, wishing that Friday would come around soon enough so I can go to Calpers to get a large bowl of this. You may wonder if it's really that good. Obviously, to each their own. Their clam chowder isn't extremely creamy, made with tons of clams and less so on the fillers like celery and potato. This soup seriously makes my tastebuds go wild. It's like an indulgence for me to have this once a week and for me to only pay $2.20 for a large bowl, my pocketbook is feeling good too. read more

The CalPERS cafeteria seemed to be a bargain before, but with the recent switch over to a new vendor, the prices are more standard. Still, the cafeteria is a decent option for lunch, if you're in the area. There's a decent sandwich-making station, salad-making station, soup station (2 soups/day), grill station, "live-action cooking," pizza, and more. There really is something for everyone. My usual go-to lunch options are: Soup (about $2.50): the soups change daily and a cup comes with two slices of baguette. I had the white chicken chili yesterday and it was pretty decent. They also have clam chowder every friday. Sandwich ($0.40/ounce): I usually just make my own sandwich. They have a few different bread options, a few meat options, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pepperoncini, tuna salad, egg salad, several cheeses, mayo, light mayo, and mustard. My sandwich today cost about $3, which is pretty fair. The staff is pretty friendly overall and quick with each transaction. Notes: -They serve breakfast too! read more

Five stars for a nice, clean and diverse cafeteria with friendly staff. I've visited several times during my time downtown and have never had a bad experience. Today, I went light and cheap: I just got a small coffee. Granted, you don't expect jaw-dropping café coffee but it was better than many. I appreciate their rotating menus and great meals. Again, you want five star dining with cloth napkins, you have other options. But if you want a quick bite (and I mean that, you'll be in and out in as much time as you would wait at Subway next store) then stop by! By the way, their soups are cheaper than Café 744. Thanks! read more

I've heard rave reviews about this place for a while now and finally got a chance to try it out with my co-workers. We all ended up getting the grill special (Portobello, Bacon, and blue cheese steak sandwich), which was fantastic! The marriage of those flavors were positively amazing - even the mixed veggies that I got as a side had this beautifully subtle flavor, and wasn't overcooked. Definitely going back. read more

It's a good cafeteria, but definitely a little overhyped. It's really just better than average cafeteria food. The food here is good and very affordable. But nothing they make is really like WOW. It's just, hmm this is good. read more

"State building" and "great food" usually don't go in the same sentence, and as far as food goes, this place could be an exception. I'm a Bay Area girl at heart, and walking 7 blocks in the middle of summer to try a new lunch spot is not the business (it was about 103 degrees when I went). Seeing as the cafeteria in my own work building is no longer in existance, and I've got to walk a few blocks to find a lunch spot anyway, I thought I'd follow the advice of fellow Yelpers and check this place out. First impression upon walking into the building: it's lovely! Bright and airy. From the P Street entrance, the cafeteria is to the right of the building so if you've never been there before, head in that direction. First impression of the cafeteria itself: Holy frickin crap, it's crowded! D: There was a salad bar in the center, and surrounding it were several stations/sections/whatever of different varieties of meals. They had the typical grill section for burgers, sandwiches and fries, and to the left of that, pizza. Next to the pizza, there was a station for more specific Italian dishes (I'm guessing that was the special for that day?), etc etc etc. During the lunchtime rush, it all seemed chaotic and a bit overwhelming, and I got in line for the grill since the line for the Italian specials was getting long. There were three others in front of me, and when I went to place my order in for a regular BLT sandwich with fries, I got told I was in the wrong line, so I had to move to a separate line just for that. Wha..? Why? Wasn't that the section for burgers and sandwiches? Then I saw the sign indicating that there is a separate line for BLTs. Which you can only see when you're already in that BLT line. Which you can't see when it's obscured by the line for people ordering burgers. Ugh. So I got into the BLT line which was adjacent to the main line but still in the grill section, and so I had to wait again behind another three people who wanted BLTs. I don't even... In any case, it took another ten minutes before my order was ready, and while I was impressed by the display of available beverages which included fruit- and mint-flavored waters (extra $$), I was already too annoyed to push my way through another crowd of folks to get a drink (I'd already had a bottle of water in my bag anyway), so I headed over to the side opposite of the grill to the registers to pay for my meal. For what I got, it was cheaper than some other places closer to my workplace, which was a plus, but I wasn't super impressed. Yes, my sandwich was good, yes, the fries were cool, too, and gosh darn it, I wish my workplace had a cafeteria with good food! But if I've got to spend time to figure out which line I need to get into for what, battle my way through a whole bunch of people to order one of the more special lunches, and then run 7 blocks back to work, I'd rather pass. I would consider coming back only if I took an early or late lunch when it may not be so crowded...or if I got a job closer to the building. But keeping it real, it's not worth the time if you don't have a lot to spare. read more

I hate getting the last fries in the frier basket. Why couldn't they make more before they served them to me? And my burger was cold. Nothing like a cold burger to piss off a girl. Its cheaper than a normal lunch place but it ain't that good. read more

An awesome value. Try their grilled cheese, french dip (when offered on special), onion rings, or build your own salad. The Caesar salad special is one of the best Caesar salads in town! But, avoid the Vietnamese pork sandwich special (eek). I like to hit the cafeteria at 1130 AM or earlier to beat the masses. read more

I have to say I liked it better before it Sodexho or whatever the hell it's called, took over, but the layout is better now, you can actually see what line you are in now. The salad bar has gotten better, you can manuver around it and get what you need. The fruit 'salad bar' in the morning is gooood, but kind of pricey, $.40 an ounce, for fruit... like melon.... seriously... but it is super convenient. The pizza is an improvement, the mushroom pizza was really good, but it was like $6, which just to me seemed like a lot, I guess I'm just cheap if I'm eating at a cafeteria... The grill is better than it was, faster and they seem to have better specials, I had a chicken sandwich and fries the other day that was pretty good. The turkey burger is also one of my favs, it's just a plan ol turkey burger. I guess I like the cafeteria because I know what to expect, and it's quick, 4 stars since I eat her so often, if it was that bad I wouldn't. read more

Cool cafeteria - open to the public. I had a business meeting with CalPERS, and was early, so went to their cafetaria. They have daily lunch specials, and as others have mentioned, the prices are subsidized. I got a really large Chicken & Pasta Caesar Salad for $6. There was a lot of food there - very fresh and well worth it. The seating is nothing spectacular, but large enough for the workforce. Most importantly, I didn't have to show ID and could pay with a credit card. If you are in the area, drop by for some cheap eats. read more

This place is great. I used to come here a lot when i used to work RIGHT next to it. BUt i remember getting a sandwich (not pre-made) and it was loaded with all the goodies. It only came out to like 3-4 bucks i think but that was like 2 years ago so i dont really remember. The place gets super packed during lunch time because all the stateworkers nearby. If youre looking to get something fresh behind the counter, expect a wait unless you get there before 12 or after 1. I remember there were a crapload of selections here too so expect to do some 2nd guessing because theres a lot of food here. Great place for just a cafeteria. read more

It is still better than most government cafeterias, but recently they changed vendors from Sodexo to Compass and the quality, flavor, and variety of the food has gone down a level. They used to have a wider variety of international selections - now their "international" selection seems to mostly be pizza, pasta, and Mexican food. The menu doesn't seem to change as often, and there's no longer the same focus on sustainable, local foods, organic produce, and global favors. And they no longer sell the fresh-baked desserts from Freeport Bakery. That being said, they still offer more than the turkey sandwiches, fries, and burgers most other government cafeterias offer. read more

Pretty decent for what it is. The lines can be really long so get there early... Anything from the salad bar is super expensive, I would recommend just sticking to their daily specials. But it's great for a quick grab-and-go. read more

I ordered a braised chicken sandwich with Greek salad and chips. It only cost $6.89. I loved the fact it was cheap and anyone could go there and eat. You don't need to be an employee at Calpers to eat here. They have salad, soup, pizza, sandwich and chef's choice menu. For that price, I would say it was a good meal. read more

4.5 I haven't had anything here that I didn't like. My favorite spot is the Grill. The chefs are the best and they make good sandwiches/burgers. This place is always crowded! My only complaint is the layout of the lines. It's kind of confusing and you're always in someone else's way. Other than that, I love coming here! read more

Been working here for over a year now and i have to say that for cafateria food its as good as it gets!! its more like restruant quality, but some of the prices are a bit high such as $0.40 an ounce for fruit or a salad. Both breakfast and lunch are great! I notice the quality of food depends on whos cooking specialy at the grill. Everyone knows that Rosa is the BEST! with no dobut she can cook you a bomb plate of food, and Juan kicks butt at the omelets and makes a great sandwich at lunch. But if someone else is doing the cooking i usualy avoid it. Nice staff, always clean, But can be PACKED around lunch and peak breakfast hours read more

If you're in the area and want a quality breakfast at a cheap price come here. They have an grill area, omelet area, and breakfast burrito area. Solid meal would cost you $6 or less. Lunch time is busy especially on Thursdays for the state workers Hail Ceasar salad. People seem to love it and will wait behind a long line for it. Best bank for your buck for lunch for me personally is the Club Sammich with Pesto Mayo. $4.08 after tax and filling. read more

Not too Shaby for a state building cafe. The service is fast, the lines are quick, the area is pretty clean. I cant speak for other state building cafe's but this one is pretty good. They have a salad bar that is fresh everyday,lots of gourmet items to choose from, i also enjoy their club station as they make the sandwhich right infront of you. If it has to be cheap and tasty, this should be your first choice. read more

BY FAR the BEST cafe down town. I come here at least 3 times a week. Clean, friendly, affordable with a wide selection of home cooked food!!

When it comes to state agency cafeteria's CalPers is the gold standard that all other cafeterias are compared to. The ingredients are fresh and organic and the prices are very reasonable compared to near by restaurants. The burgers are fresh and on point and the recent addition of garlic fries makes my cheeseburger lunch a lot better. If your within walking distance of this cafeteria, then you should definitely sample the wonderful food. read more

I'd of given it 4 stars if they DIDN'T RAISE THE PRICE ON THE PLAZA CLUB BY A @##$#$#$ DOLLAR! I guess with the ridiculous amount of meat they'd put on that bad boy, $3.50 is a fair price, but $2.50 made it the absolute steal at the Calpers Cafe for a while. Sadly, my nourishment is almost dependent on this particular cafe, so I have to give it some credit. Decent food, with guest chefs (?!) from time to time, and they have a solid selection of beverages. V8 Mixed Berry and Formula 50 Vitamin Water straight smash, yo. read more

Really cheap place to go for lunch! I heard about their delicious burgers and decided to try it out for myself. Got a grilled chicken sandwich and it was the most dry chicken I've ever tasted, not to mention burnt and plain! At least the curly fries are good. Next time I'll try something from a different line; the other stuff looks really appetizing! read more